Trap for animals



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUFUS M. TURNER, OF WOODLAND, MIGHIGAN.

TRA? FOR ANIMALS.

Specificaton of Letters Patent No. 21,454, dated September 7, 1858.

T0 all 'whom z't may camera:

Be it known that I, R. M. TURNER, of lVoodland, in the county of Barry and State of Michigan, have invented'a new and Improved Rat-Trap; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- F igure 1, is a Vertical section of my invention taken in the line x, w, Fig. 3. Fig. 2, is also a Vertical section of the same, taken in the line y, y, Fig. 3. Fig. 3, is a plan or top view of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

This invention consists in the eniployment or use of a pivoted or swinging platform with spring treadle attached, to which a catch or fastening is connected thatl sustains the platform in a proper horizontal position, the above parts being placed in a suitable base and arranged in such relation to a bait box that a rat in attempting to reach the bait will depress the treadle. and thereby release the platform from its catch, the platform consequently tilting by the weight of the rat and throwing the same into a tub or reservoir of water over which the trap is placed.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct iny invention I will proceed to describe it.

A, represents a base or rectangular plate or board in which a platform B, is hung on pivots at its center so as to be balanced thereon or nearly so, said platform being filled in a rectangular opening in the board A, and completely filling said opening` when in a horizontal position. On the platform B, a treadle C, is placed, said treadle working on a fulcrum a, on the platform. To one end of the treadle C, a project-ion Z), is attached, and this projection is fitted under the end of a bent lever D, which is pivoted to the outer side of a box, E, which is placed on the base or board A, and incloses the treadle C, see'Figs. 1 and 3.

To the upper end of the bent lever D, a rod o, is attached, said rod being` connected to a lever d, on the base, said lever being covered by a box e. The outer end of lever (Z is connected by a link with a bar g, the upper end of which is pivoted to a short upright h, on the base A. The lower end of the bar g, is made to project over the edge of the platform B, and form a catch or fastening for the same, by means of a spring` see Figs. 1 and 3.

To the base A, a spring F, is attached. This spring may be constructed of a piece of steel wire having a coil formed at its lowered end, the upper end of the wire being bent horizontally so as to project over the edge of the platform, see more particularly Fig. 3.

The front end of the box E, is open and a grating j, is placed at the back partof the box E so as to form a bait receptacle j', see Fig. 3, in which the bait is shown in red and designated by 7a, and a grating Z, is placed in the box E, near its front part, said grating serving as a sort of partition in the box, a space m, being allowed of sufficient size to allow a rat to pass on the treadle C.

The implement when set is placed over a vessel of water, the base A, covering the vessel. The platform B, is closed, that is to say, secured down horizontally by means of the bar or catch g. A rat in attempting to seize the bait 78, will necessarily pass on the treadle C, and the treadle will be consequently depressed and the projection Z), will actuate the bent lever D, which will throw back the bar g, free from the platform B, through the medium of the rod o, lever (Z, and link The platform when the catch g, is thrown back is at once tilted by the weight of the rat, the latter falling into the vessel of water below. As the platform tilts it strikes the spring F, which is thrown back sufficiently to re-act on the platform B, and throw it back to its original position as soon as the rat leaves it. The trap therefore it will be seen is self-setting. The bait is not disturbed and the device may be cheaply constructed.

I am aware that tilting platforms have been previously used and arranged in various ways' to form self-acting traps. I

therefore do not claim separately and' broadly such device; but,

I do clam as new and desre to secure by substant-ally as and for the Purpose set Letters Patent, 1 d O forth.

The t-iltno" p atform B and trea le l connected Walzh the spring ,catch g, the plat: R' M' TURNER' 5 form being placed Within the base A, and vWitnesses: i

the platform and treadle arranged in rela- ALoNzo BARNUM, ton Wit-h the box E, and bat Chamber j', A. R. MAPES. 

